(D6 LM Open) - Working the Fields

[Yasuki Tomonaga]

"Mmm, an affront to the Unicorn, and to your own clan, no doubt." Tomonaga nodded agreement. "But... I guess possibilities are scary too, huh? I mean, if there's only one way that things can turn out, you might as well accept that. If your choice decides how things turn out... well, I guess sometimes it's easier to be a simple soldier than to be the general. Or so I'd imagine."

Tomonaga turned to Udo, a smile teasing at his lips. "Those who see the choice coming fret over it, eh? May I ask how you're feeling about it, Udo-san?"

[Togashi Udo]

"Have you ever played Pin the Tail on the Goat?"

[Yasuki Tomonaga]

There was a moment of silence.

"What?" Tomonaga said. "Ummm... is that the one where you're blindfolded, and everyone pokes you with sticks?" His siblings really had a lot of terrible games they'd liked to play when he was young. "But no, I don't think so. Uh, why do you ask?"

[Togashi Udo]

"It is where one person is blindfolded, and they are trying to catch a moving goat they can't see."

"You asked how I'm feeling about my own decision to make this miai, and I think that is the best possible way to describe it."

[Yasuki Tomonaga]

"Oh." Tomonaga considered this a few moments. "That sounds difficult."

He gave Udo a nod, smiling. "Well, I have every confidence in you, Udo-san. I know you think of yourself as a little unfocused sometimes, but I'm always impressed by your insight. Besides... Yasuki are supposed to know when people want something. As you said, you've been working hard to be in a position to choose. It seems to me that you want to catch a goat."

He made a face. "Didn't we compare women to goats the first time we talked, too? Let's not mention this one, either."

[Togashi Udo]

"The ise zumi have a very special relationship with the mountain goats."

"I appreciate your words. I think part of my difficulty is knowing that I would take a Unicorn away from their life of open land to a place of mountains and monks... or I would leave for that. I think it would be easier for me to leave than for them. After all, they just returned to the Empire. To have to leave their clan, too?"

[Yasuki Tomonaga]

Tomonaga gave a chuckle, but otherwise let that one pass.

"Maybe." Tomonaga said. "The Unicorn have continued to surprise me with their adaptability. I think that they could live anywhere. But... I guess they've always had each other before, too. Hmmm." He is silent a few moments.

"That's not likely going to be a choice you can make, though, Udo-san. Unless you're picking specifically for it. As I understand, this is the first determiner." He reaches up to flick his mon indicating his higher status. "If that's equal, the person being chosen marries into the clan of the chooser." He offered him a wan smile. "Perhaps you're considering a wife who outranks you? That would work out, then."

[Togashi Udo]

"I have only met one of higher status, and I don't believe she would be pleased... Ah well. Perhaps I can make a monk out of a Unicorn."

Udo sets back to work for a time before carrying on the conversation.

"Did you reach out to Iuchi Yukarin?"

[Yasuki Tomonaga]

"Apparently you're already making one out of me." Tomonaga said with a chuckle.

For a time, they worked in silence.

Tomonaga can't quite keep from grinning a bit at the question, although he suppressed it quickly. "I did, in fact." He said. "Ummm..." He gave Tomonaga a little nod. "I appreciate the nudge you gave me the other day. Otherwise I might be one of those fellows that were were talking about when we started. The sort that thinks that everything's possible, until suddenly discovering that it's not. So, yeah. You're a good guy, Udo-san." He lifts a stalk of the plant he was harvesting like he was making a toast.

[Togashi Udo]

"I'm glad you did."

Udo can very much enjoy the quiet, so he let's it go on sometimes (like now).

"I think tomorrow is going to be a very interesting day."

[Yasuki Tomonaga]

Tomonaga is more talkative, but he wouldn't be a good merchant if he didn't know when to keep his mouth shut. That included when the other party was just happy working in silence.

"Oh?" Tomonaga said, his tone inviting. "Any special reason? A feeling? Or just..." Tomonaga shrugged, not really certain of what else it could be.

[Togashi Udo]

"There is something in the air... The miai is half over now, and wheels are in motion."

(#cryptic)

[Yasuki Tomonaga]

Tomonaga gave Udo a long look. After a few moments, his brows drew down, concerned.

"Ummm... Udo-san, that sounds a little ominous. You're just working on your monk talk, right? Not that you really need to work on it, I imagine. But you don't have the gift of prophecy, and just haven't mentioned it yet?"

[Togashi Udo]

"Oh, I've just heard some rumors. I ensure you that I'd avoid the interesting if I could."

[Yasuki Tomonaga]

"Says one of the people who did battle with an orochi." Tomonaga gave Udo a kind smile; he knew the other man felt Chi Pu's death keenly.

"Hmmm. Well, sounds as though you have better sources than I do. From what I heard, it was yesterday that was interesting, for a lot of people." He shook his head wryly. "Personally, I don't care about that sort of thing, but I didn't write the rules." He gave Udo a glance. "Well, if there's anything I absolutely should know, let me know if you can, eh?"